Weekend Edition: The city of the future, the youngest star has a birthday, and the humanoids are here

[New Atlas logo]( Welcome to our weekly wrap of the best stories to grace the pages of New Atlas over the last seven days. Sit back, relax and enjoy our Weekend Edition. Darren Quick Editor-in-Chief Architecture [Video reveals progress of 170-km-long skyscraper through Saudi desert]( [The Line will take the form of a mirrored rectangular building stretching 170 km (105 miles) long in the Saudi Arabian desert]( A video has been released that reveals the build progress of Saudi Arabia's 170-km-long city sized skyscraper rising in the desert. The scale is incredibly ambitious and The Line is expected to be home to around 9 million people once complete. [Read more]( Robotics [High-speed humanoid feels like a step change in robotics]( [Lordy, that thing is starting to move quickly – and naturally]( You've seen a ton of videos of humanoid robots – but this one feels different. It's Sanctuary's Phoenix bot, with "the world's best robot hands," working totally autonomously at near-human speeds – much faster than Tesla's or Figure's robots. [Read more]( Aircraft [Airfish-8 wing-in-ground effect aircraft slated for service in 2025]( [The Airfish-8: another incarnation of the ground effect vehicle hoping to find commercial success]( Hovering uncannily close to the waves, the Airfish-8 carves its way over water three times quicker than a boat, and 2.3 times more efficiently than an aircraft. Singapore's ST Engineering has announced its first orders, set to enter service in 2025. [Read more]( Outdoors [Sub-zero-grade teardrop trailer uses trick axles to get down low]( [The IcePro's manual winch axle system drops its floor down to the ice for drilling and fishing]( A different kind of teardrop-inspired trailer for a different kind of outdoor mission, the new IcePro trailer is a versatile toy hauler and ice hut ready to brave the coldest, iciest conditions North America can hurl its way. [Read more]( Energy [Seawater plant will capture 10 tons of CO2 and make 300 kg of H2 per day]( [A rendering of the world's largest ocean-based carbon dioxide removal plant, slated to be built in Singapore]( The world’s largest ocean-based carbon dioxide removal plant is being built in Singapore, and will be capable of capturing 8 million lb of CO2 per year while also producing 231,000 lb of carbon-negative hydrogen. [Read more]( Architecture [Bentley's new tower elevates owners – and their cars – high above Miami]( [Bentley Residences is expected to be completed by the end of 2027]( Work has begun on an extraordinary new Bentley branded skyscraper that takes automotive design to new heights – literally – with four car elevators that will allow well-heeled owners to stow their automotive pride and joy high above Miami. [Read more]( Robotics [Toyota's new soft humanoid picks things up with its whole body]( [Punyo is a torso-up soft humanoid robot designed to pick things up using its arms, chest and shoulders instead of just its hands]( Most humanoid robots pick things up with their hands – but that's not how we humans do it, particularly when we're carrying something bulky. We use our chests, hips and arms as well – and that's the idea behind Toyota's new soft robot. [Read more]( Space [Asteroid-redirecting DART probe made a splash slamming into Dimorphos]( [Simulation of the DART impact]( When NASA's DART deep space probe smashed into the asteroid Dimorphos, it didn't leave a crater. Instead, there was a splash, where the asteroid was distorted like a jelly as its entire structure shifted. [Read more]( Biology [I SAID, HALF-INCH FISH COMMUNICATES AT 140 DECIBELS!!!]( [Scientists have identified a tiny fish with a "voice" as loud as a jet engine]( A tiny, newly-discovered minnow has measured louder than gunshots, jet engines or most competition-grade car stereos on the decibel scale – which raises the question: how on Earth was it not discovered earlier? It hasn't exactly been discreet. [Read more]( Science [First synthetic protein motor creates its own fuel as it 'mows']( ['The Lawnmower' is the first synthetic molecular motor that propels itself using the energy it harnesses when it cuts through proteins]( The body uses protein-based molecular motors to perform functions essential to life. Now, researchers have created ‘The Lawnmower,’ the first synthetic motor that propels itself by harnessing the energy it creates as it cuts through fields of proteins. [Read more]( Robotics [March of the humanoids: Figure shows off autonomous warehouse work]( [The Figure 01 humanoid autonomously moves boxes around a warehouse, in a preview of the work it'll be doing at BMW]( It seems the Figure 01 won't just be making coffee when it shows up to work at BMW. New video shows the humanoid getting its shiny metal butt to work, doing exactly the sort of "pick this up and put it over there" tasks it'll be doing in factories. [Read more]( Space [The Odysseus lunar mission ends following human error on Earth]( [NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter finds Odysseus]( The IM-1 Moon landing mission will come to a premature end on Tuesday morning. Intuitive Machines has announced that Odysseus will no longer be able to charge its batteries by February 27, as sunlight stops falling on its solar panels. RIP Odie. [Read more]( Outdoors [High-rise teardrop trailer makes standing-height base camp for four]( [Enjoying some of the Pacific Northwest's renowned ski camping with the Bend Tall Boy teardrop camping trailer]( Bend Teardrop's 6 x 12-ft camping trailer has long served as something of a stretched limo for the market. The company builds on that idea even further with the Tall Boy, a four-sleeper high-roof teardrop with more than six feet of standing height. [Read more]( Automotive [Adorable Micro bubble car sizes so tiny, no license is required]( [A Geneva Motor Show debut for the series production Microlino Lite electric micro-car]( We've seen a number of electric micro-cars aim for the hearts of city dwellers recently, such as the Mobilize Duo, S04 and the Ami. Arguably the cutest of the bunch is the Microlino EV bubble car, and now a Lite version is ready to roll. [Read more]( Architecture [Neom continues transformation of Saudi Arabia with lush desert oasis]( [Elanan will make use of a natural spring on the remote desert site]( Saudi Arabia continues to transform its vast desert landscape into a tourist paradise with the newly revealed Elanan. The project will serve as an ultra-luxurious and lush oasis getaway to pamper well-heeled guests. [Read more]( Space [Youngest neutron star detected turned 37 years old last Friday]( [A composite image of the supernova remnant SN 1987A, made up of X-rays, optical and submillimeter wavelengths. It's home to the youngest detected neutron star]( The youngest neutron star detected so far turned 37 years old last week. To celebrate, James Webb Space Telescope has finally found the most direct evidence of it, hiding among the remains of the supernova cloud it was born in. [Read more]( Materials [3D-printed titanium lattice is 50% stronger than WE54 aerospace alloy]( [50% stronger than the next-strongest material of a similar density: an aerospace-grade cast magnesium alloy]( A new type of 3D-printed lattice structure has surprised researchers with its strength and light weight. It uses two different lattice structures merged together to eliminate the weak points normally found in these complex shapes. [Read more]( Automotive [Alpaca MPV camper brings a mini-camping spin to US Sprinter RV market]( [Caravan Outfitter goes big with the new Alpaca camper van]( The auto market has left Caravan Outfitter with no small van platforms for its mini-campers, so it's made lemonade out of lemons. Its new Sprinter Alpaca looks to offer the small, multifunctional practicality of a mini-camper in a full-size van. [Read more]( Motorcycles [Who is buying all the Kawasaki Mach IV Widowmakers?]( [This list of the highest prices ever paid for a Kawasaki two-stroke three-cylinder road bike at auction has the bikes sold since 1 January 2023 in red. The top eight prices in red were all paid by the same internet bidder at Mecum's Las Vegas auction held 24-27 January 2024.]( Two-stroke streetbikes have never sold well at auction – but in the last few weeks, something strange has been happening. Kawasaki's Mach IV H2, the notorious 750cc "Widowmaker," is setting record prices after a flurry of sales to a single buyer. [Read more]( Marine [174-hp electric jet ski packs instant boost and 1-hour rapid charging]( [Viva shows its electric PWC at the 2024 Helsinki Boat Show]( A jet ski The Batman would ride – that's how Finnish startup Viva Electric Jets describes its debut product of the same name. The electric new PWC promises speeds close to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) backed up by one-hour rapid charging. [Read more]( Robotics [Italian exoskeleton gets disabled users walking and standing]( [Two users of the Twin demonstrated the exoskeleton at the unveiling of the device]( A new robotic exoskeleton could allow people who have lost the use of their legs to stand up and even walk. It may also help get them walking unaided again, by guiding their movements and holding them up as they take part in rehabilitative therapy. [Read more]( Science [Potato chip breakthrough crunches cancer risk for healthier snack]( [Scientists take the chip off the old block and remake it without its carcinogenic potential]( In a true public service, potato scientists have flicked the 'off' switch on a genetic mechanism that causes cold-stored taters to produce carcinogenic acrylamide when cooked. It means that one of the world's greatest food groups could be made healthier. [Read more]( Computers [Software tweak doubles computer processing speed, halves energy use]( [You may not need to upgrade hardware to achieve enormous processing and efficiency gains, according to new research]( Existing processors in PCs, smartphones and other devices can be supercharged for enormous power and efficiency gains, according to UC Riverside. With no changes to hardware, this new approach to the software squeezes extra juice out of your system. 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